Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (1 of 29), Read 35 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@starband.net)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 07:01 AM
As gail says, "This rolls." I finished it in just a couple of days. The
premise is a poor country is trying to get a factory built and they
give a birthday party for the founder of a Sony-type corporation.
His passion is opera, and though he has no interest in building a
factory, they hire a famous soprano (who is his idol) to sing. He
comes, there is a party, and ... and...
The amazing thing is that Patchett has managed to orchestrate an
enormous cast, and I never ever got mixed up. Each person is
unique. With a few words, the people are real. And I cared about
them enormously. It also helps if you love music, and know a little
bit about opera, but it is not at all necessary. I didn't want the
book to end. Probably more than any book I've read in a long
time, and for more than one reason. I'll end on that cryptic note,
but those who've finished will know what I mean.
Sherry
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2 of 29), Read 32 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Gail Singer (gailsinger_gross@hotmail.com)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 11:02 AM
SHERRY... you don't sit still... my , my .. i just made 100 pages...
popped out of bed at three thirty.. found mrg's stash of nuts and
scurried down to my study....
i love it...i did not read your comments...i am too involved
mentally....the characters are drawn very well...and i am there
with them...
unfortunately i am off to power walk and garage sales...and off to
film this afernoon.. home to this LIFE INTERRUPTER...
gail...a passionate reader who always wonders where the next
LIFE INTERRUPTER will pop up!!
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (3 of 29), Read 34 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
R Bavetta (rbavetta@prodigy.net)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 11:42 AM
All these enthusiastic comments about this one may entice me into
it. I'd decided Patchwork Planet would be my last Patchett.
Ruth
"We are each of us like our little blue planet, hung in black space,
upheld by nothing but our mutual reassurances, our loving lies."
John Updike
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (4 of 29), Read 33 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@starband.net)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 12:14 PM
That was an Anne Tyler, Ruth. This is the author of The Magician's
Assistant. Did you read that one? I think you would like it.
Sherry
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (5 of 29), Read 36 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
R Bavetta (rbavetta@prodigy.net)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 01:04 PM
Ogod. I always get Ann Patchett, Anne Tyler and Anne Lamott
mixed up. I did read MA, but I don't remember much about it.
Which Ann wrote that Angel book that everyone here except me
liked so much? Or was that still another writer?
Ruth
"We are each of us like our little blue planet, hung in black space,
upheld by nothing but our mutual reassurances, our loving lies."
John Updike
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (6 of 29), Read 34 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
R Bavetta (rbavetta@prodigy.net)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 01:09 PM
Now actually, don't you think Patchwork Planet SHOULD have been
written by someone named Patchett?
Ruth
"We are each of us like our little blue planet, hung in black space,
upheld by nothing but our mutual reassurances, our loving lies."
John Updike
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (7 of 29), Read 35 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Felix Miller (felix3rd@bellsouth.net)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 02:11 PM
Ruth,
Are you thinking of Knowledge of Angels, by Jill Paton Walsh? The
nearest that Patchett got to angels was sister Angela in The Patron
Saint of Liars.
Greetings from north of the river,
Felix Miller
...I'll take a beer from the 'frigerator and go sit out in the yard/And
with a cold one in my hand, I'm gonna bite down and swallow hard
-No Time to Cry-Iris DeMent.
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (8 of 29), Read 37 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
R Bavetta (rbavetta@prodigy.net)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 02:22 PM
That's exactly what I was thinking of, Felix. How did I manage to
get a Jill mixed into that pantheon of Anns?
Ruth
"We are each of us like our little blue planet, hung in black space,
upheld by nothing but our mutual reassurances, our loving lies."
John Updike
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (9 of 29), Read 39 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Dottie Randall (randallj@ix.netcom.com)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 02:45 PM
You were just being poetic and hearing that alliteration --
Patton/Patchett -- Ruth -- well, cut me some slack, I've been at the
auto races all afternoon -- V-ROOOOOMMMMMMM. We saw some
great cars -- one was a 1932 model -- more on this elsewhere.
Dottie
ID is an oxymoron!
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (10 of 29), Read 34 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Lee Beech (lee.beech@sympatico.ca)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 04:45 PM
This is serendipitous -- Bel Canto is the next book in my collection
to read. I chose it because of the title -- I love opera, but it will be
great if it is also a good read.
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (11 of 29), Read 32 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@starband.net)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 08:32 PM
I don't think you'll be disappointed, Lee.
Sherry
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (12 of 29), Read 34 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Gail Singer (gailsinger_gross@hotmail.com)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 09:03 PM
greetings LEE..
have your read any of her other books...i think she keeps getting
better and better...
what other books are waiting in line:-))
gail..a passionate reader awaiting concubine's children!
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (13 of 29), Read 35 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Gail Singer (gailsinger_gross@hotmail.com)
Date:
Saturday, June 23, 2001 09:17 PM
greetings RUTH...
when you mentioned the book by ann tyler...patchwork planet...i
never tried that one..... now i am glad i passed it by... i even
heard her new one is disappointing.. i am sticking with ANN
PATCHETT...
gail...a devoted patchett fan...!!
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (14 of 29), Read 34 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Kay Dugan (okaychatt@yahoo.com)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 04:54 AM
I am an admirer of Anne Tyler, and am disappointed her latest
isn't up to her usual standards. However, I hope the comments
don't stop folks from reading her earlier works. Breathing Lessons
and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant are two of my all time
favorites.
Ann Patchett's novels are wonderful, and she's certainly on a roll
with Bel Canto. However, by the time she's written as many books
as Tyler, she may well have a couple not quite up to her recent
successes.
K
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (15 of 29), Read 37 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Lee Beech (lee.beech@sympatico.ca)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 07:30 AM
I sat up half the night reading Bel Canto, and now I am dragging!
I have about 60 pages left to read, and I am doing everything not
to pick up my book again. I just can't imagine how Patchett can
get these people out of this situation without disaster, and if there
is disaster, I don't want to know. The only character I would be
willing to sacrifice would be General Hector, and maybe some of
the unnamed teen-agers. I don't want to have anything bad to
happen to any of the hostages or to Beatriz or Ismael or Carmen
or even the other generals.
How does she do this -- make these characters so involving? She
certainly has included a large cast, but as someone else
mentioned, each character is memorable and not hard to keep
track of.
I am going to listen to Verdi, and maybe I will sneak a read, if I
feel confident that I can cope with finishing this wonderful novel.
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (16 of 29), Read 39 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@starband.net)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 07:32 AM
Lee, I told you I didn't want the book to end. Now you know what I
mean. It's one of the most involving books I've ever read. The
people are real. They just are.
Sherry
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (17 of 29), Read 44 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Gail Singer (gailsinger_gross@hotmail.com)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 08:34 AM
LEE, you are amazing.. i feel asleep with the book in my hand at
nine thirty... i was up at five thirty and instead of reading i had to
check CR:_)) THE CHARACTErs ARE so endearing...and yes, soo
easy to remember.. i am almost to page 200.. and am savoring
it...
i want to go and listen to opera...for non opera fans this book will
work wonders!!!
i think her descriptions and how she sets up the situations are very
clever....
GEN is a favorite of mine...the part about languages... he is adept
in various languages.. swedish.. spanish. .french...russian... and
he is the translator in the group.. for those who have not read
this!... he proceeds to say... that he reads all the great authors in
their original form.. flaubert in french...kafka in russian.. and when
he is finished with that.. he reads flaubert in russian.. kafka in
french.. .isn't that clever writing.. !!
gail...happy as can be .. with my LIFE INTERRUPTER~!
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (18 of 29), Read 31 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Lee Beech (lee.beech@sympatico.ca)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 01:29 PM
I am TOTALLY FURIOUS with Ann Patchett. How could she do that
to those wonderful characters? Even the generals and the
nameless teenagers became sympathetic. I could never be an
author of fiction, I think, because I would not be able to end.
I knew that there was only one way it could turn out, but I kept
hoping Patchett could find another way. My day has been spent
thinking about the situation, the characters, and ripping out weeds
viciously. I also have some swallows who have been trying to next
over my front door, and they have been outed more thoroughly
than they might have been.
Patchett has certainly left me with questions about who are the
real criminals. of course, I know the answers, having lived and
worked in developing countries, but this one brings it home again.
I did at first feel that the final outcome with Gen and Roxanne was
a bit trite, but I suppose that it was also inevitable, given what had
gone on before. I am still wondering about it.
I have been playing some old Lily Pons records to soothe my soul.
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (19 of 29), Read 31 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@starband.net)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 01:43 PM
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
I wasn't exactly furious with her, but I was hoping there
would be a better outcome. I wish Messner had broken the
rules and told them what would happen. I was mad at him
for being so "neutral." Do you think they would have
surrendered had they known about the tunnel?
I wasn't sure about the ending, either, but it does make a
kind of sense. But poor Gen lost both his loves.
Lee, didn't you like Ruben Iglesius(sp?) the Vice
President? I think he was about my favorite character.
Although, all of them were like family by the end of the
book.
Sherry
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (20 of 29), Read 33 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Lee Beech (lee.beech@sympatico.ca)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 02:01 PM
I loved all the character, and Ruben was certainly a lovely man.
When he came around collecting the trash and providing ashtrays,
I found myself chuckling and wishing it weren't the middle of the
night so I could phone my friend and tell her about this great book.
I loved Gen, too, as I am a student of languages.
As for Messner, I sympathised with him, and I felt that he really
was suffering by being in the middle.
The characters whom I most loved were Cesar and Carmen. I
have a weakness for singers, and also for women who take on
non-traditional roles. I liked Carmen better than Beatriz because
the author gave us more of Carmen, but Beatriz had her
moments, too.
I am still angry with the author. I know her choices became
limited, but .........
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (21 of 29), Read 33 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@starband.net)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 02:46 PM
Didn't you love the line about the opera Carmen being dangerous
to priests? I wish I could remember it. I didn't mark up the book,
because it's hard cover. There were several lines I thought were
priceless.
Sherry
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (22 of 29), Read 32 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Kay Dugan (okaychatt@yahoo.com)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 03:06 PM
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
I also identified with the characters and felt myself empathetic to
the terrorists' cause. But then, I had to remind myself that they
were holding these people captive, and that part of what was going
on was the seduction of the hostages. From what little I've read,
that's a common reaction of people in such situations.
It's important to remember that Gen KNEW what was going on and
CHOSE to ignore it. The only ones that kept a sense of balance
were the priest and Messner.
I'm not blaming any of the characters, but I am saying that
Patchett did a beautiful job of seducing her readers into an
empathetic stance with the terrorists. She drew them as relatively
benign, but they were still terrorists at worst and kidnappers at
best.
Let me add that my emotions were pulled in all directions. I
thought I'd die when Cesar, Carmen, and Mr. Hosokawa died.
I did not think the Gen and Roxane marriage was realistic. I also
thought the Beatriz thread was unfinished. From the hints Patchett
dropped, I figured Beatrix would use the Hosokawa\Roxane affair
as leverage somehow.
K
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (23 of 29), Read 35 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@starband.net)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 03:18 PM
AND YET ANOTHER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
I had that same feeling about Beatriz, Kay. I thought
somehow she was going to use the information to her
advantage, but then, she probably would have, had the
military waited a while. What got me was the the terrorists
where such innocents really, without any experience of
the outside world. It was hard to think of them as killers,
but as children who had been terribly taken advantage of.
What was your reaction when it said the President stayed
home because of "his soap opera"? I had to reread that
part, because at first I didn't think it meant a literal soap
opera.
Sherry
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (24 of 29), Read 32 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Kay Dugan (okaychatt@yahoo.com)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 04:50 PM
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
What got me was the President never seemed to be involved with
what had happened. Of course, we didn't get to read the news
items any more than the hostages did. But I got the feeling he
really wouldn't have cared much beyond the fact he had escaped
the Vice President's fate.
I agree, Sherry. The terrorists were victims of an uncaring, elitist
regime. I just think it's important to realize they had no right to do
what they did to the innocent world citizens. I have to remember,
though, that taking so many hostage was not part of their original
plan. Once they were in the situation, they had to continue.
I thought it interesting that so many hostages and kidnappers were
able to enrich parts of their lives during the siege. I was pleased
for them, though as a reader, I never quite lost the sense of being
confined. Like Thibault, I wanted OUT of there. He had something
to return to. Not all the hostages were content to stay. We just
heard more from the ones that were.
The people that refused to think of the future were deluding
themselves. Ruben wanted to adopt Ishmael?!! His wife would
come to love him, too?!! Gen believed he could marry Carmen and
live happily ever after?!! They had lost all touch with reality.
Perhaps in a different world those things would have been
possible. That different world, of course, was part of Patchett's
message - the Bel Canto.
This novel reads like an opera, doesn't it?
K
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (25 of 29), Read 31 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Sherry Keller (shkell@starband.net)
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2001 08:36 PM
Very perceptive comments, Kay. It was operatic. Big and blustery
and unreal, with emotions over the top. But it was oh so beautiful.
"Bel canto" = beautiful singing.
Sherry
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (26 of 29), Read 16 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Gail Singer (gailsinger_gross@hotmail.com)
Date:
Monday, June 25, 2001 12:46 AM
greetings LEE... KAY.. SHERRY..
i finished BEL CANTO...was it three days...or four
days...whatever...
the book was wonderful.. the premise of these people
...terrorist/captors... is not a new one... but her characters jump
out at you.. you walk around during the day.. thinking about
them...you know who they are.. you can name them readily... and
even their idiosycranies... you fall in love with them...you wait to
see what develops and you know they are going to die!!
from the inception... i knew death was the ending... however trite..
LEE, YES, gen and roxane... oh my GOSH.. i started to laugh!!
i think it would have been better to have deleted that section..
which is mighty short ....it would have been better knowing they
died helping each other.... ..
i want to share some of the poignant parts that i will carry with
me... ESMERElda...sewing up the face of RUBEN...the VICE
PRESIDENT... wow, would you ever forget this HIGHLY DRAMATIC
SCENE...
and let's not forgot some of the humorous parts... when CARMEN
takes mr. hosokawa to meet his lover through the dark ...small
hallways... she thinks.. .THANK GOD, this isn't the RUSSIAN... they
would have to stop to smoke...
wasn't THIELBAULT a scream with his cooking....and the
terrorists/captors working in the kitchen side by side slicing
onions...etc..
a cast of colorful characters which will remain with me for quite a
while... i think the character of GEN is my favorite...an unusual
person with his facility for languages and how he describes his
childhood...learning all these languages and having not much time
for anything else...
i am tired now... but a good tired.. i want to think about this
exceptional thrilling ..and chilling novel...it certainly INTERRUPTED
MY LIFE!!
gail.. off to play bridge after feeling very satisfied!!
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (27 of 29), Read 8 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Lee Beech (lee.beech@sympatico.ca)
Date:
Monday, June 25, 2001 06:30 AM
It's important to remember that Gen KNEW what was going on and
CHOSE to ignore it.
I'm not sure I understand this comment of Kay's. Gen, as
translator, processed all the various comments among the
hostages and captors, but as for really knowing what was
happening, I'm not certain I agree. He was not party to any
decision-making, he simply passed on the various demands.
I did not have the feeling that the captors were any less captive
than their hostages. They were being held hostage themselves by
a corrupt government which was willing to sell out the interests of
the country to a Japanese factory. The brother of one of the
generals was jailed for protest, the young people in the movement
were all denied proper education and opportunity because of their
poverty and birth circumstance. It was suggested several times
that those on the outside might not be trusted to release the
hostages unharmed: if the captors didn't harm them, the
government forces would in order to justify themselves. I think
one of the issues which arose here was that the government was
NOT blameless.
As for the president sitting home watching his soap opera, I loved
that, but the ominous undertone was there. Soap, washing, Pontius
Pilate came to my mind. Also, trivial, mindless, manipulated.
Actually, a friend has told me that there was a soap opera which
captured her whole country in South America, and that life and
conversation focussed on its events. That reminds me of an
occasion in a school where I taught on my return from several
years in Africa. I heard people talking about "Shawn" and
"Meaghan" and "?????" and various other names and their
escapades. I commented that I was surprised that the entire staff
seemed to all have the same circle of friends. It was then that I
learned that the entire staff rushed home immediately the buses
left to watch the same soap opera!
We haven't talked about Mr. Hosokawa. It is so very appropriate
that he is always referred to as Mr., isn't it? He was self-effacing,
and yet a pivotal character. I felt that Patchett did a wonderful job
of showing us this man. His death was so very much in character, I
felt, and provided Patchett with all that she needed for her ending.
I also loved the Carmen reference, that the music itself is
corrupting, without ever getting to lyrics! I can think of a couple of
other pieces of opera music which I find just about as sensual as
some of Carmen: the opening of Der Rosenkavalier is sensual,
sensuous, suggestive, all of the above to me.
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (28 of 29), Read 12 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Gail Singer (gailsinger_gross@hotmail.com)
Date:
Monday, June 25, 2001 12:30 AM
greetings KAY...
ANN PATCHETT has written only four novels and each one is a
WINNER ..
ANN TYLER...has written many many..and yes, i can highly
recommend DINNER AT THE HOMESICK RESTAURANT and maybe
one or two more...
ANN PATCHETT takes her time to write her novels.. she is in no
hurry.. she has no financial worries...as she had shared with us
when she toured with MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT...
i will always read a good novel by ANN TYLER when my BOOKIES
rave about it.. but till then.. i need books that virtually INTERRUPT
MY LIFE..
gail..a passionate reader and fan of ANN PATCHETT and ANN
TYLER...
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (29 of 29), Read 6 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Kay Dugan (okaychatt@yahoo.com)
Date:
Monday, June 25, 2001 08:34 AM
Lee-
When I said Gen KNEW what was going on and CHOSE to ignore it,
I was referring to his conversation with Messner about the tunnel.
Gen got the message that disaster was pending, yet he elected to
stay in his love cocoon with Carmen. He tried to warn the
generals, but when they didn't pick up on it, he let it go and opted
for his delusion.
There's no doubt the terrorists were victims of the situation.
However, they did have the option of releasing more hostages, not
to mention getting the heck out of Dodge when they first realized
the President wasn't at the party. I understand why they didn't -
they were frightened and dismayed and were determined to make
a point. But they did opt to inflict terror.
I became attached to the captors as much as the hostages. Given
the statements about how the government would be willing to
sacrifice the hostages to prove a point, I gained an understanding
of the captors. They did feel just as trapped as the hostages. But
they were the ones that forced 58 people to give up their own
freedom to satisfy the needs of the people.
Did anyone else in CR feel a sense of claustrophobia while reading
this? Though I was totally absorbed, I was very aware that all was
not right.
What I think is important is how well Patchett drew her reader into
the captive mindset. The only one that kept a perspective was
Thibault. He had something to live for outside of the situation. The
others found their life's purpose inside Ruben's house.
K
Topic:
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (30 of 30), Read 12 times
Conf:
CONSTANT READER
From:
Lee Beech (lee.beech@sympatico.ca)
Date:
Monday, June 25, 2001 04:07 PM
I guess when I consider the often corrupt governments of
some of the countries of South America, Asia and Africa, I
wonder how protest can be carried out. It seemed the
hostage-takers were prisoners to their own government. I
have lived in a regime which I felt held its citizens in virtual
captivity, and perhaps in some countries,there is no
alternative but desperate action. Certainly this is the
impression I have had from some of my friends in
development organizations, friends who have been tortured
and imprisoned by their own governments, for their beliefs.
One of the generals had a brother who had been
imprisoned for protest, didn't he? I did not get the
impression that he was a criminal, but that he was a
dissident.
Yes, the hostage-takers took hostage the people from the
party, and certainly created fear. The Vice President was
mistreated at the beginning, but on the whole, the hostage-
takers did not act violently -- the government forces did.
I felt that Patchett certainly left me pondering how one can
protest in a country where legitimate disagreement is not
permitted.